INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ATTACKED BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS IN NABLUS

British observer reports from Nablus, where his team were beaten
and threatened while trying to protect Palestinian medics.

Nablus still a military zone, main hospital being shelled.


An observer from North East England suffered cuts and grazes and one of his British
colleagues was badly beaten today, when they tried to protect a group of
Palestinians in Nablus, on the West Bank. The observers' cameras and
mobile phones were smashed and a stun grenade was used, while Israeli
soldiers tried to force the Internationals to leave behind a small group
of Palestinian medics.

Adam Conway, from Morpeth in Northumberland, UK, was returning from the
Balata refugee camp in Nablus, with about 24 other international
observers and 6 Palestinians, both women and men, when they were stopped
by soldiers and military police. The whole group had been allowed
through the checkpoint earlier in the day, to take food and medical
supplies into Balata. On being refused access to the nearby camp of
Askar, they were returning to the city centre when they were stopped.

Speaking over a poor telephone line this afternoon (Tuesday), Adam
explained how the soldiers had attempted to separate the Palestinians
and Internationals. Shots were fired in the air and a stun grenade was
used, but the observers refused to leave the Palestinians behind. While
some of them (including Adam) stood or lay with individual Palestinians,
others attempted to talk with the soldiers and negotiate a way through.

Eventually the group was allowed to proceed, with the Palestinians
accompanied by just three Internationals, and the rest of the observers
following at a distance. The whole group was accompanied by soldiers
and followed by a tank. A group of French observers was allowed to
leave to collect their bags and depart, but the other Internationals
were not prepared to leave the Palestinians behind, and a long stand-off
ensued, until they were allowed to return to the Union of Palestinian
Medical Relief Committees clinic, where they are now staying.